Albert Bichot Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy (2023) 2023

Maison Albert Bichot is one of Burgundy's old family houses, six generations in and farming its estate vineyards organically. This is its Mâcon-Villages, from the Mâconnais in the warmer south of Burgundy - the region that gives white Burgundy at a price most people can actually reach. The village of Chardonnay sits here, and it's where the grape is thought to take its name. The fruit comes off clay and sandstone soils over limestone bedrock, the chalky base that gives white Burgundy its freshness and mineral cut. It's fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel to keep the fruit clean and bright, then aged with about a fifth in oak barrels - just enough to round the texture without leaving any obvious oak flavour. The result is fresh and floral: acacia and honeysuckle on the nose, green apple and citrus on the palate, with a chalky, mineral finish. Light, lively and dry, it's best served well chilled, around 10-12°C.